THE DWARF APPLE-TREE 59 



in Sole Paradisus terrestris; or, a Choice Garden of all 

 Sorts of Rarest Flowers, etc." Now we use the word for 

 gardens of bliss. 



The word Doucin, from the Italian, is supposed origi- 

 nally to have designated apples of sweet flavor, but it 

 now applies technically to a class or race of semi-dwarf 

 apple-trees. 



For the purpose of this little book, however, the in- 

 terest in the dwarf apple centers not so much in the or- 

 igin of the stock as in the natural-history of the tree itself 

 and the good skill of hand and heart that one may ex- 

 pend in the growing of it. If one would come close to a 

 plant, knowing it intimately in every season, causing it 

 to respond to sympathetic treatment through a series of 

 years, then a garden collection of dwarf apples may 

 satisfy the desire. It is too bad that we do not have 

 time to cultivate the dwarfs often in the yards and gar- 

 dens of North America. We are more familiar with the 

 raising of dwarf pears (which are grafted on quince 

 stocks since there is no similar race of natural dwarf pear- 

 tree), but we do not give them the thumb-and-finger care 

 that is demanded for the choicest results. The abundance 

 of apples in the market should only stimulate the desire 

 of the connoisseur to have trees and fruits that are wholly 

 personal. The market produce can never gratify the af- 

 fections. 



